5

Supplements for Dry Eye

Are your eyes burning and tearing? Does it feel like you have sent in your eyes? Are your eyes sore, red and sensitive to light? You may have a condition called dry eye. 1,2,3. Since the Covid-19 lockdown, we're all spending more time looking at screens – whether for e-learning and working from home. Being stuck indoors all day means we’re exposed to low humidity and restricted airflow, all of which can lead to dry eye. 4

 

Tears are needed to provide clear vision and maintain a healthy eye surface. 

Every time we blinked, tears spread across the front surface of the eye (cornea), providing lubrication. Tears wash away foreign particles, keeping the surface of the eyes smooth and clear.5, 6  When you don’t blink often-which is the case when working on a screen-your tears evaporate faster, which dries up the eye. 7, 8

The management of dry eye is aimed at conserving tears, increasing tear production, or treating eyelid or eye surface inflammation. 5  Artificial tears/ocular lubricants are the mainstay of dry eye management and your first point of call for dry eye symptoms.

 

But did you know that dietary supplements may also help? 5, 9

Essential fatty acids, of the Omega – 6 and 3 series, can play a role in the control of inflammation and in promoting the recovery of the structure of the eye surface. 9, 10 Omega – 3 and 6 are called quite “essential”, as they cannot be made by the human body, and must be produced with the diet.  9 

In particular, Omega-3 a found in fish and fish oils, and in green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, and nuts and beans, in seeds and oils. Omega-6 are available in many plants oils, such as those from corn, peanuts, safflower, rapeseed, sunflower; other common sources of Omega – 6 are poultry, eggs, cereal and whole-grain breads. 9, 11

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient present naturally tear film of healthy eyes. Vitamin A plays an important role in production of the mucus layer, the most innermost layer of tear film that is crucial for a healthy tear film. 10

 

What else can you do to reduce symptoms of dry eyes? 5, 12 

  • Blink often to refresh your eyes. Try to make it a habit to blink more often when looking at a monitor.

  • Increase the humidity in the air at home.

  • Take eye breaks. Try the 20 – 60 – 20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 6 meters away for at least 20 seconds.

  • Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day.

Ask your eye care practitioner for advice and more information
 
References:
  1. Yoo TK, Oh E. Diabetes mellitus is associated with dry eye syndrome: a meta-analysis. Int Ophthalmol. 2021;39(11):2611-2620 [Last accessed February 2023]

  2. Messmer EM. The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of dry eye disease. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015;112(5):71-82 [Last accessed February 2023]

  3. Asiedu K, Kyei S, Boampong F, Ocansey S. Symptomatic Dry Eye and Its Associated Factors: A Study of University Undergraduate Students in Ghana. Eye Contact Lens. 2017;43(4):262-266 [Last accessed February 2023]

  4. The Ophthalmologist. COVID-19 and Dry Eye Disease. July 2020. Available from: https://theophthalmologist.com/covid-19-and-dry-eye-disease [Last accessed February 2023]

  5. American Optometric Association. Dry Eye. Available from: https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye [Last accessed February 2023]

  6. Elhusseiny AM, Khalil AA, El Sheikh RH, Bakr MA, Eissa MG, El Sayed YMN. New approaches of diagnosis of dry eye disease. Int J Ophthalmol. 2019;12(10): 1618-1628

  7. Jaiswal S, Asper L, Long J, Lee A, Harrison K, Goldiebowski B. Ocular and visual discomfort associated with smartphones, tablets and computers: what we do and do not know. Clin Exp Optom. 2019;102: 463-477

  8. Van Tilborg MM, Murphy PJ, Evans KS. Impact of Dry Eye Symptoms and Daily Activities in a Modern Office. Optom Vis Sci. 2017;94(6): 688-693

  9. Aragona P, Rania L, Micali A, Puzzolo D. Nutrition and Dry Eye. Curr Ophthalmol Rep. 2013;1: 58-64

  10. Phadatare SP, Momin M, Nighojkar P, Askarkar S, Singn KK. A Comprehensive Review on Dry Eye Disease: Diagnosis, Medical Management, Recent Developments, and Future Challenges. Advances in Pharmaceutics. 2015; 704946. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/704946  

  11. Signes-Soler I, Estan JJ. Nutrition and dry eye: a systematic review. Expert Review of Ophthalmology. 2019;14(3): 133-150. Available from: DOI: 10.1080/17469899.2019.1614442

  12. Mayo Clinic Staff. Eye Strain. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372403 [Last accessed February 2023]

 

OPTIVE® Lubricant Eye Drops and OPTIVE® Unit Dose Lubricant Eye Drops – Class B. Contains carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/ml and glycerine 9 mg/ml. For full prescribing information refer to the Instructions for use. For adverse events, report to MEAPV@abbvie.com. AbbVie (Pty) Ltd, Reg. 2012/068113/07. Address: Building 7, Waterfall Corporate Campus, 74 Waterfall Drive, Midrand, 1685, South Africa. Tel: 011 031 1600. Date of Publication of this material: May 2025. Promo. No. ZA-OPT-250019